A group of boda boda cyclists in Soroti City took possession of over 500 plastic chairs, labeled ‘Joan Alobo Achom,’ in protest against alleged unpaid allowances. The chairs, part of a larger donation by MP Joan Alobo Achom for public events, were seized during a scuffle at Soroti Independence Square.
The cyclists claim they were not compensated for their service in receiving and escorting the body of the late legislator, Cecilia Ogwal, from Soroti City’s east boundary to Independence Square for public viewing. They allege promises of Shs20,000 each were unfulfilled, leading to the drastic action.
Mr. Simon Achut, a spokesperson for the group, stated, “We want the money; if not, we are taking the chairs.” They accused the MP’s agents of attempting to swindle their earnings. Another cyclist, Mr. Paul Okiria, criticized MP Alobo for associating with individuals with questionable intentions, calling for a reshuffle of her political aides.
Following the scuffle, over 100 cyclists reportedly carried three to five chairs each to their homes. In response, MP Alobo urged calm, attributing the incident to malice aimed at tarnishing her reputation. She emphasized her absence during the episode and questioned the motives behind singling her out.
Ms. Achom called on Soroti City residents to appreciate the facilities she donated and dissociate individual incidents from the overall public utility purpose. She suggested that the incident may be an attempt to undermine her contributions to the community.
